Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Pearl’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Pearl.’ The variety is similar to the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai.’ The variety is distinguished from ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai,’ in particular, by its longer petiole length, longer fruiting truss length, upright growth habit, strong sweetness of fruit, and highly susceptibility to powdery mildew.

1. Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

1.1 Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Pearl’.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Pant Pat. No. PP12,899) and ‘88E94’ (unpatented) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Monterey County, Calif. in 2000. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey County, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Pearl’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Monterey County, Calif. for four years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Pearl.’ The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

4. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Pearl’ from those known to us are ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP15,145). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. For example, the new variety has a longer petiole length, a longer fruiting truss length, an upright growth habit, strong sweetness of fruit, and is highly susceptible to powdery mildew.

The paternal parent, 88E94, was not available for side by side comparison with ‘Driscoll Pearl’. ‘Driscoll Pearl’ differs from 88E94 by having superior fruit size and shelf-life, greater plant vigor, dark red fruit color compared to 88E94s oranged red. ‘Driscoll Pearl’ also differs from 88E94 by being partially everbearing while 88E94 was fully everbearing. ‘Driscoll Pearl’ is distinguished from its maternal parent ‘San Juan’ as indicated in Tables 1-4.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and underside of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

6. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants harvested from a nursery in McArthur, Calif. in October and held in cold storage until planting in Monterey County, Calif. in November and December of the same year. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in Monterey County, Calif. Fruits were harvested twice weekly from April, 2003 to November, 2003 for yield determination. Observations of ‘Driscoll Pearl’, ‘San Juan’, and ‘Driscoll Lanai’ were made in side by side comparison in August, 2004. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

6.1 PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

6.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on eight month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Pearl’ compared with characteristics of ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai.’ Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Pearl’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai.’ Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai.’ Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai.’

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL PEARL,’ ‘SAN JUAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Pearl’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm)   34.5   26.5   26.1 Spread of Plant (cm)   45.7   44.7   46.6 Number of Crowns    5.3    5.0    5.7 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Length    7.7    6.6    7.5 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Width    6.9    6.5    7.4 (cm) Terminal Leaflet    1.11    1.02    1.01 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal Leaflet   20.5   18.8   23.6 Color of upper side 137B 139A medium 147A medium green green medium to dark green Color of under side 137D 138B 147C light grey light green light green green Petiole Length (cm)   27.4   22.5   22.7 Petiole Diameter (mm)    4.1    3.6    4.2 Petiole Color 145B 145A 149A yellow green yellow green yellow green Petiolule Length (mm)   18.2   14.3   10.8 Petiolule Diameter (mm)    2.2    2.5    2.1 Petiolule Color 145C 145A 149A yellow green yellow green yellow green Bract Frequency    8%   25%   75% typically typically typically paired single paired Stipule Length (cm)    3.6    3.4    3.3 Stipule Width (cm)    0.6    0.7    0.6 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color  59B  60A  59A purple red purple red purple red Diameter at bract (mm)    2.56    3.16    3.19 Avg. # of Daughter   68   68   67 plants (2003 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm)    1.23    0.97    1.06 Petal Width (cm)    1.28    1.04    1.18 Petal Length/Width Ratio    0.96    0.93    0.90 Flower Diameter (cm)    2.34    2.42    2.31 Calyx Diameter (cm)    3.96    3.16    3.19 Sepal Length (mm)   15.4   11.8   11.9 Sepal Width (cm)    8.7    5.9    6.9 Petal Color 155C 155C 155C white white white Receptical Color 154C 154C 154C yellow green yellow green yellow green Anther Color  9A  9A  9A yellow yellow yellow Fruiting Truss Length   42.8   28.8   31.2 (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm)    4.4    3.9    4.5 Fruit Width (cm)    3.8    4.1    4.3 Fruit Length/Width Ratio    1.15    0.96    1.03 Average Berry Weight   24.1   23.4   25.2 (g) External Color  53A  45B  53A dark red orange red dark red Internal Color  34B  47C  44A orange red orange red red Achene Coloration 185A to 162A 185B to 154B 46B to 16A grayed purple grayed purple dark red to to grayed to grayed yellow yellow yellow Achenes per berry   318.4   323.7   330.9 Achene weight (g)    0.00051    0.00049    0.00059 2003 Marketable Yield 1,854 1,679 1,499 (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL PEARL,’ ‘SAN JUAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Pearl’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Plant Habit upright flat globose to flat globose Canopy Density open open medium Vigor strong to medium medium very strong Leaf Shape in cross section concave slightly flat to concave to flat slightly convex Interveinal blistering medium medium medium to strong Glossiness weak to weak weak to medium medium weak Number of leaflets three only three only sometimes more than 3 leaflets (approx. 17% of leaves) Terminal leaflet margin revolute to revolute to flat revolute to flat profile flat Terminal leaflet shape of obtuse to rounded obtuse to base rounded rounded Terminal leaflet shape of rounded rounded rounded teeth Stipule pubescence dense medium to medium dense Petiole pubescence medium to medium medium dense Petiole pose of hairs upwards downward outward to downward Stolon Anthocyanin coloration medium strong strong Thickness thin medium to medium thick Pubescence medium to dense medium dense Inflorescence Position relative to beneath to level to above beneath to level foliage level with with Diameter of calyx larger same size to larger relative to corolla on larger secondary flowers Diameter of inner calyx larger larger same size relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate prostrate prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical conical to conical to ovoid almost cylindrical Difference in shapes slight slight moderate between primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes very narrow narrow to narrow to narrow medium Unevenness of surface very weak weak medium Evenness of color even even even Glossiness strong strong very strong Insertion of achenes level with level with level with surface surface surface Insertion of calyx level level level Pose of the calyx spreading to spreading to spreading to segments reflexed reflexed reflexed Size of calyx in relation smaller smaller same size to fruit on secondary fruit Adherence of calyx medium to strong strong strong Firmness of flesh medium medium firm Evenness of flesh color slightly uneven slightly uneven uneven to even Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal and marginal and color central central central Hollow center size small to medium medium medium Sweetness strong medium medium to strong Texture when tasted fine fine medium Acidity medium medium medium Time of First Flowering early to mid- mid-February mid-February in 2003 February Harvest Interval in 2003 mid to late- late-March to late-March to March Early Early November November Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

6.3 REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL PEARL,’ ‘SAN JUAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Pearl’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae moderately susceptible moderately susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew highly susceptible susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt moderately moderately susceptible resistant resistant Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

6.4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Pearl’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Pearl’, ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL PEARL,’ ‘SAN JUAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Locus Pearl’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ PGI A2 A1 A2 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C2 C4 

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 